The Rational Reminder Podcast

What are the critical factors driving investment success? How can investors balance profitability and risk? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sunil Wahal, the Jack D. Furst Professor of Finance and Director of the Center for Responsible Investing at the W.P Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, to delve into the intricacies of financial science. With over 25 yea

There are many different considerations behind housing when you are in the position to choose between renting or buying. During this episode, hosted by Ben Felix and Dan Bortolotti, we address user questions and comments on homeownership, rentals, and the factors that may lead to choosing one over the other. We discuss what makes homeownership more attractive as your financial situ

Have you ever wondered how financial markets performed centuries ago or how world events impacted stock prices? Today, we sit down with Dr. Bryan Taylor, President and Chief Economist at Global Financial Data, to unpack the world’s fascinating financial history. Dr. Taylor is known for his extensive work in collecting and analyzing historical financial data that spans several cen

Is renting just “throwing money away,” or could it be the smarter financial choice? In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most debated topics in personal finance: renting versus owning a home. In our conversation, we discuss the nuances of renting versus owning, the hidden costs of buying a home, and the importance of saving discipline. Tuning in, you’ll discover how

Can we really understand the impact of passive ownership on the US market? Marco Sammon is an Assistant Professor in the Finance Unit at Harvard Business School. During this episode, he joins us to share deep insights into the complex and counter-intuitive nature of the index fund revolution. To kick off our conversation, we discuss some of the challenges associated with getting a

How can the Rational Reminder Podcast get even better? By bringing back one of its most beloved voices, Dan Bortolotti, also known as "The Spud." In this exciting episode, hosts Ben Felix, Cameron Passmore, and Mark McGrath announce that Dan, the mind behind the Canadian Couch Potato Podcast, will now be a regular guest, contributing segments like "Bad Investment Advice" or "Ask th

Have you ever wondered how vibes can shape the economy? Or how the economy differs from financial markets? Or even how meme stocks operate? In this episode, we dive into the intersection of economic theory, social media, and public sentiment with Kyla Scanlon, an insightful economic commentator known for her relatable approach to explaining complex economic concepts. Kyla is a prol

Which account should you choose, a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or a Tax-free savings account (TFSA)? This is one of the most common decisions that Canadians must make when it comes to investing, but it will also elicit some of the most passionate responses. RRSPs especially get a lot of undue skepticism, with some even labelling it as a scam. Today we take a deep dive

If you’re in the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), then you won’t want to miss today’s conversation with Canada's Chief Actuary, Assia Billig. Assia’s knowledge of the CPP is extensive, having joined the Office of the Chief Actuary (OCA) in 2008, where she was involved in the preparation of statutory actuarial reports on the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Program. She ha

Today, we sit down with Professor Kevin Milligan to unpack the recent capital gain changes and the complexities of the Canadian tax system. Kevin Milligan is a Professor of Economics at the Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia. He holds positions as a Scholar-in-Residence at the C.D. Howe Institute and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic